by C. J. Thomas
I kicked off my heels, leaving them in the spot where I stood, and padded to the living room. Setting the gun on an end-table, I ran my fingers over the backs of the couches, envisioning Friday night movies, drinking wine late into the night while Patrick was sleeping. Nora cuddled under Kelly’s arm, his heart content with the hectic rhythm of family.
Everywhere held reminders of Nora’s unique style. From wooden lamps to modern furniture that went perfectly with the canvas photos of exotic places hanging on the walls. It seemed almost surreal. What Kelly had with her was nothing like the life he had with me. Two different women. Two different places in life.
I browsed.
I pondered.
Soon, awe spun into a tight ball of resentment.
With heavy feet, I was reminded this was entirely Madam’s doing. It was impossible not to hate her when looking into the bright eyes of who Patrick once was. She was behind their innocent deaths. Killed for selfish reasons. Taken too early for purposes not worth dying for. Then I just felt guilty for blaming Kelly these last few weeks for not moving on from loving Nora.
“You’re such a bitch,” I said to myself.
Spinning around, I glanced to the clock hanging in the front room. The big hand had barely moved. Flicking my gaze to the outside, the clouds rolled in. They were thick with threats of possible drizzle and Kelly wouldn’t be back for another hour at least.
I turned and trudged my way back to the gun. Swiping it off the table, I stomped my way upstairs to the bedroom. Lowering myself to the edge of the bed, I sat staring, imagining Nora’s limp, cold, blue body spread across the mattress while inhaling Kelly’s heady scent.
It was selfish of me to think it but I couldn’t help myself. A part of me was happy she was dead because, without her passing, I would have never had my chance at the amazing man we both loved. The reality of her death convinced me that Madam would someday do the same to me.
My head hung and I closed my eyes.
With my thoughts drifting away, the dark clouds of depression filled the empty space.
Peeling my gummy lids open, I glanced to the gun. It shined and tempted me to step into that same dark place Nora had escaped to find her peace. Loneliness made the house even quieter than it should have been.
I didn’t know how we were going to escape Madam’s reach. She had blocked every angle. And when I turned the muzzle on myself, the fears of being alone grew, leaving me to fall victim to my own insecurities.
Do it.
You can die today.
The thoughts germinated and sprouted into something more.
Finish this.
I breathed and had the confidence to go through with it. But before I could let that happen, I tossed the gun on the bed, scurried out of the room, slammed the door shut, and ran back downstairs with a wave of heat moving up my neck.
Searching the kitchen for any sort of alcohol, there was nothing. I opened drawers, slammed cabinets, and scoured the fridge. Finally giving up, I downed a cold glass of water, splashing what little remained at the bottom on my face.
I calmed my heart, eased my mind. Next thing I knew, I found myself on the couch, turning on the TV.
I flicked through the channels and stopped on the news. Sylvia’s face was displayed in the corner and I listened to how the police were still looking for her. Then they showed a clip of Oscar and I had to turn it off.
Falling back into the couch, I spread out and crossed my feet at the ankles.
Thinking about my parents and what I was going to do about them, it occurred to me that Kelly never mentioned anything about his own. There were no photos anywhere of them, and I found it odd.
Reaching for my phone, I flipped through my messages. Then, out of nowhere, I called Mom.
“You’re late,” she answered.
My lips curled and I almost wanted to laugh. “I’m sorry. Something came up last minute. I tried to call.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised with how you’ve been acting.” I could envision Mom’s proud, tight-lipped face challenging me with a fight. “Marvin warned me that you might do this.”
I pushed myself up and pulled my knees into my chest. “When did you see Marvin?”
“The day after you were supposed to visit your father.”
I closed my eyes, not needing to feel any worse than I already did. “Mom, I know he’s your brother, but there are things about him he’s probably not telling you.”
“Marvin is helping with bills. He visits regularly. It’s more than you can say.”
My brows knitted with a flush of resentment blooming across my chest.
How was Marvin paying bills when he was supposedly racking up debt with Madam?
Something wasn’t adding up.
I wanted to tell Mom he was the reason I was in my current profession. But I could already hear her answers. Excuses for everything. Never taking responsibility for the choices you’ve made.
“Marvin has an addiction, Mom.”
“And who told you this? My brother is no druggie.”
“Mom, it’s gambling. Not drugs.” But I couldn’t dare explain how I knew this and that I was running Madam’s errands to help feed Marvin’s urges. She was having a hard enough time coming to terms with what I did.
Mom barked out a laugh. “You know, I’ve seen the news.”
“What is it this time?” I rolled my eyes.
“I’m waiting to see your face one night.”
A shadowy figure flashed across the window out of the corner of my eye. My eyes popped. My heart jump-started as a sudden rush of adrenaline lifted my brows high. Then I saw it again. “I have to go Mom.”
“Of course. As soon as I mention the truth. But, know this, sweetheart, you can’t run from your problems.”
My head snapped around when I heard banging on the back door. Dropping my feet to the floor, I pulled the phone away from my ear, stared and thought, they’re back.
26
Kelly
“They’re going to need you to sign off on the approval,” Maxwell said as I hit the lock button on my key fob.
My chest tightened with anger. I stopped and stared at my parked car. “Put them on the phone.”
Maxwell was getting nowhere on the breaking and entering investigation. I didn’t understand what the issue was. It wasn’t like Maxwell was a complete stranger to the staff at the front desk.
The line rustled and soon a female voice said, “Mr. Black, we have a set of protocols and, unfortunately, it doesn’t permit us to share our intelligence with non-residents.”
My eyebrows squished. “You do know that my apartment was broken into, don’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t aware of that.” She sounded confused.
“I didn’t call the cops.”
She swallowed hard enough for me to hear her do it.
“I need you to turn over those files to my associate or I’ll be forced to file charges against you and the hotel for negligence.”
“Mr. Black, I don’t mean to offend you. I’m only following orders passed down the chain of command. If you would like to see the files your associate has requested for yourself, I would be happy to make that happen. Until then, I’m afraid I’ll be turning him away.”
Standing in the shadow of City Hall, I didn’t have time to argue about whether or not they’d broken their contract. “Put my associate back on the phone.”
“Very well, sir.”
Maxwell was back on the line. “Looks like I’ll have to do this myself,” I said. “Stick around. Keep an eye on the place. See if you can’t figure out who may have gained access to my floor by asking around.”
“Anything else?” Maxwell asked.
“You have my keycard?” Maxwell said he did. “Good. Feel free to ride the elevators for as long as it takes. In the meantime, I’m fighting our other front and meeting with the mayor now.” Maxwell wished me luck as I skipped up the steps and entered City Hall.
Preparing myself to
be met with more roadblocks, I was surprised by how quickly security ushered me through. A young fresh-faced guard escorted me through the hallways to the mayor’s office. The mayor thanked the man and greeted me with a strong handshake and warm smile. “Thanks, Kelly, for coming down so quickly.”
“I can’t wait to see what you’ve got,” I said, meeting the watchful eye of a woman dressed in an impressive looking suit.
“Before we get started, I need you to turn off your phone.”
I flicked my eyes back to the mayor.
He nodded. “I can’t afford to have this information leaked.”
“Must be good,” I said, reaching for my phone and turning it off.
Taking a seat himself, the mayor’s leather chair crinkled beneath his weight. He motioned for me to relax and take a seat as well. “Who is she?” I jutted my jaw toward the woman.
“Just sit, Kelly. And I’ll tell you what I can.”
With a skeptical crease lining my brow, I stepped in front of the chair opposite Mayor Bentley and lowered my tail down. Once I was seated he said, “This is Mary Johnson, Internal Affairs.”
I wasn’t impressed, even though I knew it was the right move.
“Unfortunately, I can’t share everything as we’re still in the middle of an ongoing investigation,” the mayor said, getting us back on course.
I gave him an arched look and hoped my time wasn’t being wasted.
“Trust me when I say that no matter what gets discussed today, your information is safe with her, too.”
“Mario.” I rolled my gaze back to the mayor. “Who killed him?”
The mayor leaned forward and laid his elbows on top of his desk. Opening up a manila folder, he began passing me photos from the video we discussed. I took them and studied them with a careful eye. They weren’t exactly clear, but they were good enough.
“Young black male. Originally from Las Vegas.” The mayor filled me in. “A lengthy arrest record dating back to juvenile detention.”
“Okay.” I glanced above the photograph. “What was he brought in for? And why did he get released?”
“I was hoping maybe you recognized him from your time in the courtroom.”
I took another look and shook my head.
The mayor leaned back, keeping one arm resting on the edge of his large desk. “The arresting officer booked him on drug distribution. Cocaine and heroin.”
My vision blurred as I thought of what Madam was accomplishing. Another obvious link proving this was the guy Oscar hired. “The officer’s name?”
The mayor turned his head to Johnson before responding. “Narcotics Detective Matt Fletcher.”
I gnawed on the inside of my cheek, making a mental note of the detective’s name. “And?”
“And the paperwork never got filed so we had no choice but to have him released.”
I turned my head and cursed. “But not before the perp got to Mario.” My hand balled into a tight fist.
The mayor dropped his gaze and frowned.
I turned to IA. “That’s why you’re here.”
She stood, took a step to the desk, bent at the waist, and placed her hands on top. “We have the man back in custody. We’re looking into his financials. Any other bargaining chips that may have been offered.”
“But you need to connect him to the DA.”
“We’re putting offers on the table as we speak,” Bentley said.
“If there are any corrupt members on the force, we’ll sniff them out.” Johnson pulled back. “I can give you my word on that.”
“Is Fletcher being investigated, too?” I asked.
“Let us do our job,” Johnson said.
“The DA. He’s who we’re after.” I stood, thinking of what he’d done to Kendra. “This is a good start.” I looked both of them in the eye. “But secure an indictment, then give me a call.”
The mayor rooted his hands into his hips after standing. “Kelly, we’ll make the arrest as soon as we’re confident the charges will stick. No one is above the law. Not even Oscar Buchanan.”
27
Kelly
I flew down City Hall’s front steps, turning my phone back on and thinking how the secret I had on Oscar was enough to secure his indictment.
But my hands were tied.
I couldn’t reveal my cards.
Not to the mayor, and certainly not to anybody in the department. I didn’t know who this Detective Matt Fletcher was, but I had my suspicions he might be close to Oscar if he helped get Mario killed.
I caught sight of Giselle. She was on the phone, hiding behind dark sunglasses.
Making my way to her, I could feel how close we were to collaring Oscar. I shared the mayor’s optimism, knowing at this point it was all I had to hang onto. My only hope was that we wouldn’t run out of time before the tables were turned on us—which they inevitably would be if we didn’t get this done soon.
I slowed my stride when my phone started ringing. “Wes, what’s up?” I answered.
“I spoke to Nash.” He paused, hanging the suspense out to dry.
“I thought he might want to talk to you.” I squinted beneath the graying skies.
“Fuck, Kelly,” Wes snapped. “Whatever Madam wants, give it to her.”
“I can’t.” Giselle caught sight of me. I nodded in recognition. She walked my way. “It’s not that easy.”
“And why the hell not?”
A couple uniformed officers passed nearby. “I can’t really talk about this now.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you do, I just need you to end this before I get put under the microscope.”
I stared at Giselle with my thoughts swirling. I was between a rock and a hard place. I knew what I had was valuable but holding onto it was dangerous too. If I gave Madam only the after-photos of Sylvia’s apartment—trying to fool her into thinking she was safe—Oscar would know I had the before-images and our plan would be foiled. “Relax,” I said. “Mint is safe. Your businesses are safe.”
“Then what do I tell the DEA when they come knocking on my door?”
I swallowed and lowered my voice. “You tell them to call me.”
“How did I know you would fucking say that?”
“Look. I just spoke with the mayor.” I could hear Wes perk up. “Oscar is being investigated for conspiring to murder.”
“Mario Jimenez’s death,” Wes whispered.
Now Wes understood. “This will be over soon.”
“You keep telling me that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“You know I’ll never forgive you if you’re wrong.”
I stared at Giselle as she stepped up, carefully listening to my last words to Wes. His business and reputation weren’t the only things I was gambling. It was my career and my life with Kendra that were on the line, too. “I know,” I breathed as I hung up, ending our call. “What’cha got for me?” I asked Giselle, hoping she’d found something about the possible investigation Sylvia mentioned.
“Nothing.” Disappointment sagged her shoulders. “I keep coming up empty.”
Wagging my head, I motioned for us to walk. Heading toward my car, I said, “The mayor isn’t aware of any investigation, either.”
“Sylvia only mentioned it in passing so, maybe it was just her way of throwing us off?”
Giselle made a good point. We kept walking.
“I mean, do we even know where she is?”
I shook my head. “She’s working with someone. Whoever it is, they would want to keep it quiet to not set off any alarms with those they’re trying to convict.” My gaze swept off the ground as I lifted my head.
“What is it, Kelly?”
With a pressure headache forming, I said, “The DEA is sniffing around.”
Giselle’s lips parted as she lowered her sunglasses and glanced at me over the rim.
I told her about Ty Lemon calling, how Nash informed me they even paid Alex Grace a visit. It wasn’t worth me mentioning who
they were going to target next. Giselle made the same assumption I had—Kendra Williams.
“You think that this could be the investigation Sylvia mentioned?”
I turned my attention up the street. Cars were driving by. City buses stopping and going. “We know where the money she stole from Kendra was coming from. And, because of that, it certainly seems plausible.” I flicked my gaze back to Giselle. “Would also explain why she disappeared and said she was working on her own plan without needing any help from us.”
“I’ll keep asking around.”
“Keep it quiet and do it quick.” I stuffed my hands inside my pockets and walked the rest of the way to my car. “Things will get dicey once word gets out that the city’s lead prosecutor is being questioned for conspiring to murder Mario.”
I unlocked and opened my car. Giselle asked where Kendra was—how she was doing. I told her I had her in a safe place and it was going to take time for her to come around to feeling like herself again.
Giselle cast her gaze down.
I caught her chin and said, “Keep your head up. I know it’s hard, but we’ll get through this.”
“But will she?” Giselle said, referring to Kendra.
We both shared a knowing glimmer. It wasn’t if the DEA would find their way to Kendra, but when.
Instinctively, I glanced to my wristwatch. “I better get going.”
I lowered my large frame into the driver’s seat and tucked myself behind the wheel. Giselle had a suspicious look on her face and before I had time to ask, she said, “I can’t help but be a little bit concerned as to why Kendra was given back to you.”
Staring ahead, I nodded. “Madam sent Kendra on a mission to retrieve the records we took from Sylvia’s apartment.”
When I looked to Giselle, her face tightened. “She knows what we have?”
Shaking my head, I said, “Not the specifics.”
“At this point it’s the only evidence we have in our possession to proving Oscar is corrupt.”
As if I needed reminding. “It will never be allowed into evidence,” I muttered just as my phone’s alarm went off. Taking it out of my jacket, I glanced to the screen. My eyes widened as a sense of sudden urgency sent my heart racing.